How to Paint a Wall
Never picked up a paintbrush? Don't worry. You can still paint a wall like a pro!
Up next in Painting & Wallpaper (13 videos)
Brighten up a room with these painting and wallpaper tips.
You Will Need
- Sandpaper
- Damp rags
- Painter's tape
- Drop cloth
- Primer
- Paint roller
- Replacement roller pad
- Paint
- 2 or 3" brush
- Roller pan
- Fan (optional)
- Small painter's brush (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Smooth bumps & wipe
If painting a new wall with no previous paint, use sandpaper to smooth any bumps. If there are any holes, spackle and sand them. Then wipe with a damp rag.
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Step 2
Cover trim & floor
Cover the trim with blue painter’s tape and cover the floor with a drop cloth.
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Step 3
Apply primer
Apply a thick coat of primer with a thickly padded roller. This will hide any surface imperfections and keep the paint from peeling. Allow the primer to fully dry.
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Choose paint colors a shade lighter than what you really want—colors often dry darker than you expect—and test them on a small, discreet spot.
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Step 4
Paint edges
Tackle the edges first. Using a two- or three-inch brush, apply a band of paint along the edges of the ceiling, windows, doors, baseboards, and cabinets. This is called 'cutting in.'
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Small rooms take about one or two gallons for the first coat; the second coat takes about half as much.
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Step 5
Use roller to paint
Pour paint into a roller pan and use the roller to paint in an up and down motion. One technique: roll out a W shape in paint and then spread it evenly into a square.
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Don’t paint from side to side—it can look streaky.
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Step 6
Wait for 1st coat to dry
Wait an hour or so for the first coat to dry.
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Want to make it dry faster? Put some fans in the room.
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Step 7
Apply 2nd coat
Apply the second coat with a fresh roller pad with a lighter shag. Use less pressure the second time around—just make sure the paint is distributed evenly.
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Step 8
Fill in spots
Use a two-inch brush—or even a small painter’s brush from an art store—to fill in or even out any spots you missed or that are too bulky or streaky.
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Step 9
Let dry & remove tape
Once the second coat is dry (in about an hour) carefully remove the painter’s tape.
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Step 10
Enjoy wall
Enjoy your newly painted wall!
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Fast-food restaurant walls are often painted yellow or orange because studies show those colors make people eat faster.
